Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala’s move to Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship could be back on – but the Amakhozi are discussing a deal with Dutch-based South African striker Bernard Parker.
Tshabalala, scorer of that sensational opening World Cup goal against Mexico for Bafana Bafana a year ago, has seen Forest’s interest revived by the arrival of former England boss Steve McClaren last month.
He replaced Billy Davies, the former Trent Bridge boss who decided against signing the dreadlocked dynamo last season. Tshabalala’s business manager Jazzman Mahlakgane told the Sowetan newspaper: "I can confirm that there are people who want Shabba to join their club in Europe in the new season but we are still awaiting an official letter to that effect from them.
"Shabba belongs to Chiefs, so they will have to engage the club as the employer. We are not under pressure because we know that we will get something good abroad.
"He is a great player, an international brand after scoring the goal in the 1-1 draw against Mexico.
"I think it's a matter of time before Shabba grabs his bags and goes abroad. I must admit that the support we have been getting from Chiefs has been incredible."
Chiefs general manager Bobby Motaung is quoted as saying, very generously: “There is no offer for Shabba at the moment, but let me make it clear Chiefs are always happy to release our players to go abroad if the offer is good."
Better news for Chiefs fans is that Parker, sent on loan to Greek strugglers Panserraikos by Dutch club FC Twente last season, could be lured to the gold-and-black if the Amakhosi’s top scorer Knowledge Musona’s move to Germany’s Hoffenheim is completed.
Though Parker is on a high weekly wage in the Netherlands, he is considered surplus to requirements and a return to South Africa is on the cards, as I said on eTV's Sunrise programme in South Africa this morning.
Zimbabwean Musona, 21, leaves for Germany later this week with agent Mike Makaab telling the BBC: "Knowledge is still in South Africa, but we expect him to leave at the end of the week or early next week at the latest.
"Though Celtic in Scotland have also shown an interest, Hoffenheim are in pole position and it will be interesting to see what happens over the next week or so. He's going for a physical assessment and medicals so we just hope that all goes well."
Motaung confirmed: "We've negotiated the offer club to club so now it's more about the player and what he wants."
Parker trained with SAPL clubs Wits and AmaZulu after his Greek tragedy last season - Panserraikos were relegated – and though his agent continues to search for overseas interest, Chiefs would be the perfect platform to keep Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane aware of his goal-scoring talents.
Meanwhile South Africa’s stalwart centre-half Matthew “Booooooth” Booth is unhappy with his treatment at Mamelodi Sundowns. With new manager Johan Neeskens taking over, Booth has been effectively dumped at the HM Pitje Stadium, and when invited to the club’s prize-giving, he said on Facebook: “Wow! Talk about a kick in the balls and a slap in the face...Sundowns has just sent me an invite to their awards evening!!!..haha...u gotta laugh!”
Booth slammed the club again on Robert Marawa’s Discovery Sports Centre on www.metrofm.co.za on Wednesday night, insisting Sundowns were wrong to “let him go”.
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